23 Volunteers Honored by LSF

at Miami Dinner

Youngest Honoree Is 14 Years Old

23 June 2009 - TW

Twenty one volunteers from Miami-Dade area Lutheran Churches were honored by Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) at a Good Samaritan Dinner on June 21.  The dinner was held at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Miami. 

"Truly it was the best yet," said volunteer and attendee Emily Gomez, one of 284 people who attended, representing 21 church partners in LSF ministries.

The Good Samaritan award is presented by LSF to exceptional volunteers whose faith is an extension beyond the usual and normal activities of their life and is an expression of the love of God through helping others. 

Those honored in Miami included 14 year old Louis F. Joseph from St. John Lutheran Church in Miami Shores (picture below).  The complete list of honorees were:

• Helmer (Andy) Anderson - Lord of Life ELCA, Miami

• Norma Arter - St Paul LCMS, Miami

• Ruth Baal - Christ the King ELCA, Miami

• Anna Baird - Lord of the Seas ELCA, Big Pine Key

• Ruth Bidwell - St. Timothy ELCA, Miami Gardens

• Ruth Blagriff - St. Andrew ELCA, Homestead

• Dennis and Kim Derr - St. Thomas ELCA, Miami

• Hugo Echevarria - San Pedro ELCA, Miami

• Betty Foucault - Messiah ELCA, Miami

• Hector Gomez, Hospital del Alma LCMS, Leisure City

• Dozlin Hinds - Christ ELCA, Biscayne Park

• Joan Hohensee - St. James ELCA, Coral Gables

• Louis (Fabrice) Joseph - St. John ELCA, Miami Shores

• Barbara Junge - Bay Shore LCMS, Miami

• Tom Miles - Concordia LCMS, Miami

• Jerry and Mary Pohl - South Miami ELCA, Miami

• Victor Real, Jr. - San Pablo Apostol LCMS, Miami

• Joan Reitsma - St. Matthew LCMS, Miami

• Albert Schmidt - Grace ELCA, Miami Springs

• LaVerna Solinger - Martin Luther Chapel LCMS, Marathon

• Marina Wijesinha - St. Mark's ELCA, Coral Gables

David Weidner brought greetings from President Gerhard Michael, Jr. of the Florida-Georgia District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.  The Rev. Paul Lutze brought greetings from Bishop Edward Benoway of the Florida-Bahamas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  LSF President and CEO Samuel Sipes presented the awards. Masters of Ceremony were Ms. Laurel Marc-Charles and Pastor William Sielk.

A Silent Auction was also held at the dinner.  Monies raised will benefit LSF programs in Miami.

Many thanks to the Miami-Dade Advisory Council for their assistance in planning and coordinating this event for the last ten years.

Click here for a COMPLETE PHOTO GALLERY of the event.

Lutheran Services Florida is a statewide, social services organization with more than 60 programs located across the state that assist at-risk children, the frail elderly, troubled youth and families in crisis, refugees and immigrants, homeless families, and victims of natural disasters.

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